Murder suspect Geoffrey Bulman has denied attacking or hurting his dad who was found dead in his home four days after Christmas.

Bulman has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his 71-year-old father, George, and is on trial at Newcastle Crown Court.

Prosecutors claim the 46-year-old, of Stratford Grove West, Heaton, killed Mr Bulman after accusing him of sleeping with his on-off girlfriend.

However he refutes the allegation and said he is not responsible for his father’s death.

He told the jury his father had arrived home at around 9.30pm or 10pm on December 28 and appeared confused. His lips and face looked swollen, there was a scratch on his eye and there seemed to be a split across his forehead.

He claimed his mother, Carol, who had been drinking, had been agitated during the day over suggestions that her husband had borrowed money from her son’s on-off partner Angela Taylor and that he may have slept with her.

He said his parents had been arguing and fighting during the night and he had made several attempts to stop them.

He alleged that his mum had at one point started hitting his father on his face with a shoe and on another occasion slapped him several times.

Bulman said went to bed between 1am and 1.30am after taking a sleeping tablet and woke up just after 8am when he heard his mum’s voice.

He found his father lying on the floor and tried to pick him up, but could not.

He told the court: “I was not worried about my father because I did not think there was anything wrong with him. I thought he was drunk.

“He had bruises on his face on the night time when he came in. I was not particularly worried about his injuries. I have seen him like that before.”

Mr Stein further asked: “The prosecution say you got angry and that you maybe got jealous over Angela, and that you wanted to hurt him. Is any of that true?”

“No,” said Bulman.

The defendant also told the court that upstairs neighbour Alan Dove came to their home that morning and the pair grappled with each other. Bulman is accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Dove, which he denies. He says he acted in self defence during that incident.

He added: “I did not throw any punches, I did not get an opportunity to. My hands were knackered so I couldn’t.

“He had his arms around my waist and legs and I was trying to get out of the situation. He was on his knees and was trying to pull us down. Then I slipped off the kerb on the front door. I got myself free.”